Orbitz Launches Oil Spill Beach Guarantee

Orbitz is promising travelers worried that the BP Gulf oil spill will ruin their summer Florida beach vacation that they will get full refunds if they can't get to the beach.

The online travel company has launched what it's calling its Open Beach Guarantee, developed in partnership with participating Florida hotels.

Under the guarantee, Orbitz says customers will be eligible for a full refund on their standalone hotel stay if a government agency closes a beach within 20 miles of the hotel property where they are booked, or declares it dangerous. They aren't refunding airfare or packages with air, however.

"We are closely monitoring this environmental tragedy, and our first priority is to communicate timely, transparent information to our customers about the impact of the oil spill," said Barney Harford, president and CEO of Orbitz Worldwide. "The Open Beach Guarantee offers peace of mind to our travelers planning a trip to the Gulf Coast.

While the company said its initial focus is Florida, Harford said they are also working with hotel partners to quickly extend the guarantee to other Gulf Coast beach destinations.